From signings to sales and wider club management, Manchester United face some big decisions in the summer.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is determined to take the 20-time league winners back to the top and, here, PA News Agency takes a look at the task at hand.
What is the situation in United?
The club is struggling on the pitch and in transition off it. Having crashed out of Europe before Christmas and now missing out on Champions League qualification, an FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25 would give United the chance to end a largely miserable campaign on a high. Is. Temperatures have naturally risen during a poor season in Erik ten Hague’s hot seat, with the ambitious Enos having to consider how to take the club forward. It has been under the hood since Ratcliffe struck a deal in December, then took formal control of football operations at United when a £1.3 billion minority ownership deal was ratified by the parties in February. done
What have changed so far?
Enos feels that fundamental changes are needed at the board, which has been going on since the controversial leveraged takeover of Glazers in 2005. “Football and performance on the pitch are at the heart of everything we do,” United said. The move was announced in January and Berrada is due to start in mid-July, bringing much-needed leadership and clarity to a club where he will again work alongside Jason Wilcox. Another former high-ranking City employee, the 53-year-old left his role as Southampton’s director of football this month to become technical director at United. Wilcox will serve in the senior position until Dan Ashworth joins from Newcastle as sporting director. On gardening leave with talks at a standstill, he is not expected to be in place for the summer window. Director of football John Mortoff has since left in what has been the most high-profile exit under Enos so far.
What’s going on with the manager?
After winning the Carabao Cup, reaching the FA Cup final and finishing third in his first season, things went from bad to worse during a difficult, injury-plagued second campaign under Ten Hague. Pressure has mounted on the Dutchman, who has just one year left on his deal, and has come out fighting, angered by his hard-line views and belief that United have been forced from the start. No need to start. Ten Hague has been involved in all the recruiting meetings and pre-season tour planning, but it remains to be seen if he will be there to see it. FA Cup glory will surely give him the chance to start another season, as unlike compatriot Louis van Gaal in 2016, there are mitigating factors due to a lack of standout replacements. Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel are the current bookmakers’ favorites for the position.
How about a summer transfer?
After some summers of big spending and belt-tightening, United’s budget looks set to be constrained by profitability and sustainability concerns, as in the rest of Europe. Admittedly they will need to raise money through sales after years of what Ineos believes has been a pattern of poor player trading, but not everyone is ready to sell. Young talents Kobi Mino, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund are among those touted as the club build for the future. Mason Greenwood, Jaden Sancho, Donnie van de Beek and Hannibal Magbury are salable assets returning from loans, while the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Scott McTominay could all attract interest. Speculation continues over the future of Marcus Rashford and Casemiro will be allowed to leave if ties with Saudi Arabia remain. Raphael Varane is set to leave on a free as it stands, although unlike Anthony Martial a new contract has yet to be ruled out. United are not expected to make Sufian Amrabat’s loan permanent and it will be interesting to see what Enos can do this summer.
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
